Photo: Daxipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Atonio's story moves me more than most stat lines. Born in Timaru with Samoan roots, he built his career as a prop in the trenches of French rugby, anchoring La Rochelle and ultimately earning the France jersey on residency. That is the unglamorous, body-on-the-line work I have endless respect for; props rarely get the headlines they earn. His retirement at 35 after a heart attack in early 2026 lands hard, a sobering reminder of what collision sport asks of the people who play it. I hope he gets the long, quiet recovery he deserves, far from the scrum he gave so much to.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Uini Atonio
- Name (Japanese)
- ウイニ・アトニオ
- Reading
- ういに・あとにお
- Born
- March 26, 1990 (age 36)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Horse
- Origin
- Timaru, New Zealand
- Height
- 197 cm
- Occupation
- rugby union player
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Uini Atonio born?
Born March 26, 1990 (age 36).
Where is Uini Atonio from?
Uini Atonio is from Timaru, New Zealand.
What does Uini Atonio do?
Uini Atonio works as rugby union player.
How tall is Uini Atonio?
Uini Atonio is 197 cm.
Rugby union player — see all → · More people from New Zealand →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.